Thread a needle, knot the end, and push up through the fabric from underneath
Sewing a button takes about five minutes once you have a needle, thread, and scissors. Push the needle up through one hole in the button from the underside of the fabric. Pull the thread until the knot catches underneath and stops the needle. Then push the needle down through the opposite hole, through the fabric, and back up again. Repeat this path four to six times until the thread is tight and the button will not move.
The whole process works the same whether the button has two holes, four holes, or a shank (a metal loop on the back). The only difference is which holes you use and how many passes you make before the button feels solid.
Key Takeaways
- You need a needle, thread that matches the button or fabric, scissors, and the button itself — most people already own these.
- Push the needle up from underneath the fabric, through one hole, then down through the opposite hole, and repeat four to six times.
- Tie a knot at the end of your thread before you start so it does not pull through the fabric.
- Wrap the thread around the needle two or three times before pushing it through to the back, then tie off — this keeps the button from moving.
What you need before you start
Gather a needle, thread, scissors, and the button. The thread should match the button color or the fabric color — if you cannot find an exact match, thread that is slightly darker than the fabric is less noticeable than thread that is lighter. A sewing needle works best, but a regular needle from a sewing kit will do. If you do not have thread at home, a dollar store or pharmacy sells small spools for under two dollars.
Cut about 18 inches of thread from the spool. This is long enough to sew the button without running out, but short enough that it will not tangle while you work. Thread the needle by pushing one end through the eye (the small hole at the top of the needle). Pull the thread until about 4 inches hangs on one side, then tie a knot at the longer end by looping the thread around your finger twice and pulling it tight.
Push the needle up through the fabric from underneath
Find the spot where the button fell off. If the button is still attached but loose, you can sew right over the old thread. If the button is gone, look for the small holes or marks where it was. Push the needle up through the fabric from the back side, coming up through one of the button holes. Pull the thread until the knot catches on the underside and stops the needle from going any further.
The knot keeps the thread from pulling through the fabric and unraveling. If the fabric is thin or stretchy, you can place a small scrap of fabric or a toothpick underneath to give the knot something to catch on.
Sew through the button holes four to six times
Push the needle down through the hole directly across from where you came up. If the button has two holes, push straight down through the other hole. If it has four holes, you can go straight across or diagonally — either way works. Pull the thread tight so the button sits flat against the fabric.
Push the needle back up through the first hole again. You are now making a path: up through hole one, down through hole two, up through hole one, down through hole two. Repeat this four to six times. Each pass should pull the thread snug so the button does not wiggle. After the fourth pass, the button should feel solid. If it still moves, do two more passes.
If the button has four holes, you can sew two holes together four times, then switch to the other two holes and sew those four times. This spreads the stress across all four holes and makes the button last longer.
Wrap the thread and tie it off underneath
After your last pass, push the needle to the back of the fabric but do not go through a button hole. Instead, bring the needle up right next to where it went down, creating a small loop of thread between the button and the fabric. Push the needle through this loop two or three times, wrapping the thread around the needle. This wrapping keeps the button from moving side to side and prevents the thread from unraveling.
Pull the needle through so the wrapped thread tightens around the base of the button. Then push the needle to the back of the fabric one more time and tie a knot by looping the thread around your finger and pulling it tight. Trim the extra thread with scissors. The button should now be find and will not come loose with normal wear.
Buttons with four holes or a shank
A four-hole button gives you more options for how you sew. You can sew two holes together in an X pattern (top-left to bottom-right, then top-right to bottom-left), or you can sew them in two parallel lines (top holes together, then bottom holes together). The X pattern looks neater on a dress shirt; the parallel lines are stronger for work clothes or jackets. Either way, sew each pair four to six times before moving to the next pair.
A shank button has a metal or plastic loop on the back instead of holes on the face. Push the needle up through the fabric, then through the shank loop, then back down through the fabric. Repeat this four to six times, wrapping the thread around the shank as you go. The wrapping creates a small space between the button and the fabric, which keeps the thread from breaking when the button moves.
What to do if the thread breaks or tangles
If the thread breaks while you are sewing, tie a knot at the end of the thread still attached to the button. Cut a new piece of thread, knot one end, and push the needle up through the fabric right next to where you left off. Continue sewing as normal. The two knots will both sit underneath the fabric and will not show.
If the thread tangles while you are working, stop and gently pull the needle away from the tangle without yanking. Let the thread unwind naturally. If it is too knotted, cut the thread above the knot and start over with a fresh piece. Tangles usually happen because the thread twisted while you were pulling it through — pulling slowly and straight (not at an angle) prevents most tangles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sew a button by hand if I have never sewn before?
Yes. This is the easiest sewing task because you only move the needle in one direction — up and down through the same holes. There is no pattern to follow and no measuring. If you can thread a needle and tie a knot, you can sew a button.
What if the button holes are too small for my needle?
Use a thinner needle. A size 7 or 8 needle is thinner than a size 10. If you do not have a thinner needle, you can carefully enlarge the hole by pushing a toothpick through it a few times, but be gentle so you do not crack the button.
How tight should the thread be?
Pull the thread snug so the button sits flat against the fabric and does not move when you tug it. It should not be so tight that it puckers the fabric or bends the button. If the fabric wrinkles around the button, loosen the thread slightly on your next pass.
Do I have to match the thread color to the button?
Matching the button color is neater, but matching the fabric color works too. Thread that is slightly darker than the fabric is less noticeable than thread that is lighter. On a dark coat, dark thread is almost invisible even if it does not match the button exactly.
How long will a hand-sewn button last?
A button sewn with four to six passes of thread usually lasts as long as the garment. If a button comes loose again after a few months, the fabric around the holes may be worn. You can sew it again in a slightly different spot, or reinforce the area with a small patch of fabric underneath before sewing.